Princeton Borough names its captain - 15-year police veteran chosen

PRINCETON BOROUGH - A 15-year veteran of the borough police force has been chosen for the newly created post of police captain. The borough council named Lt. Nick Sutter, 39, to the position this week on a 5-1 vote.

Sutter, who has worked for the borough since 1995, is a graduate of the West Point Command and Leadership Program and the FBI National Academy. He earned his bachelor's degree from Kean College in 1993 and is pursuing a master's degree at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

"The decision here was not an easy one," councilman David Goldfarb said of the appointment. "We had two very highly qualified candidates, I am delighted with the choice, but in saying that, I am delighted that Lt. (Sharon) Papp will be available if Nick becomes unavailable at any point. We would have been served well by either candidate."

The borough will promote a sergeant to lieutenant to replace Sutter, and it will promote another officer to sergeant.

Councilman Roger Martindell cast the lone vote against the appointment, saying his vote had nothing to do with Sutter, but with the issue of creating another supervisory position. He said the new post is unnecessary and will mean personnel costs will rise. Council President Andrew Koontz disagreed.

Sutter will receive more money, but officials have said the amount is not significant. Officials have also argued that having a captain in place is important so there is a clear chain of command. Martindell said that the timing is off and the borough could at least postpone the decision.

"This is the wrong time to promote someone to captain because it does cost more money, we are in a serous financial situation and I don't think it's necessary," Martindell said. "He is already the first lieutenant in charge and has authority by virtue of his seniority. To make him captain and increase his salary even by $1 sends a message, and I don't think it's the right message to send in this economic climate."

Goldfarb, an advocate for restoring the captain's post, said the borough should have created the position a few years ago when former chief Anthony Federico announced his retirement. When Federico died suddenly last summer, there was no clear authority, Goldfarb argued.

"Dave Dudeck responded to the challenge as the acting chief, but it was not an optimal situation to be in," Goldfarb said. "I don't want to take a chance again. It is important the position be filled."

Koontz said the council had already decided at a previous meeting to create the position and the issue on the agenda was whether or not to hire Sutter, not to debate the creation of the position.

Martindell also voted against creating a hiring list of three police officers, saying the council should first discuss what the department's staffing needs are and what kind of department it wants.

Councilwoman Barbara Trelstad said the council should discuss the ultimate goals for the department and how it should work, but she said she would support the hirings because the council previously agreed there was a need to have a sufficient level of staffing in place for the department to function properly.

Councilwoman Jenny Crumiller said the discussion should be a public forum so the council could receive feedback from the community.

Goldfarb said Dudeck make a compelling case for a department with a minimum of 30 officers last month when the council approved the ordinance setting a cap of police staffing levels.

"With the hires we are proposing here, we will meet what I agree are minimal staffing needs for borough police department," Goldfarb said.